A linac-based X-ray system for cargo scanning and imaging applications uses linac design, RF power control, beam current control, and beam current pulse duration control to provide variable controlled dose per pulse to permit scanning a portion of a vehicle at a dose safe for humans and scanning a cargo portion of a vehicle at substantially increased dose per pulse.

A linac-based X-ray system for cargo scanning and imaging applications uses linac design, RF power control, beam current control, and beam current pulse duration control to provide variable controlled dose per pulse to permit scanning a portion of a vehicle at a dose safe for humans and scanning a cargo portion of a vehicle at substantially increased dose per pulse.

The invention relates to an X-ray source (2) for an imaging device comprising at least three electrodes; a power supply configured to provide a primary gap voltage between a first (13) and a second (12) electrode among said at least three electrodes, said primary gap voltage having an AC component, causing a transport of electrons from the first electrode toward the second electrode; and a controller configured to supply a variable potential on a third electrode (14) among said at least three electrodes, wherein the X-ray source is configured to generate an X-ray beam with an energy spectrum based on the voltage difference between the first electrode and the second electrode, and wherein the controller is configured to set the variable potential on the third electrode to a value causing at least a partial blocking of said transport of electrons, whenever a predetermined condition is met.

The invention relates to an X-ray source (2) for an imaging device comprising at least three electrodes; a power supply configured to provide a primary gap voltage between a first (13) and a second (12) electrode among said at least three electrodes, said primary gap voltage having an AC component, causing a transport of electrons from the first electrode toward the second electrode; and a controller configured to supply a variable potential on a third electrode (14) among said at least three electrodes, wherein the X-ray source is configured to generate an X-ray beam with an energy spectrum based on the voltage difference between the first electrode and the second electrode, and wherein the controller is configured to set the variable potential on the third electrode to a value causing at least a partial blocking of said transport of electrons, whenever a predetermined condition is met.

A control mechanism for a high-voltage generator for supplying voltage and current to an electronic radiation source in high-temperature environments is provided, the control mechanism including at least one voltage feedback loop for monitoring the output of the generator; at least one environmental temperature monitor; a control bus; and at least one control processor. A method of controlling a high-voltage generator that powers an electronic radiation source in high-temperature environments is also provided, the method including at least: measuring the output voltage of the generator; measuring the temperature within the generator's environment, using a control mechanism to modify a driving frequency, and using a control mechanism to modify a driving pulse-train, such that changes in properties of the electronic components of the generator as a result of changes in environmental temperature are characterized and the generator's driving signals modified to maintain optimally efficient input parameters for a specific environmental temperature.

A control mechanism for a high-voltage generator for supplying voltage and current to an electronic radiation source in high-temperature environments is provided, the control mechanism including at least one voltage feedback loop for monitoring the output of the generator; at least one environmental temperature monitor; a control bus; and at least one control processor. A method of controlling a high-voltage generator that powers an electronic radiation source in high-temperature environments is also provided, the method including at least: measuring the output voltage of the generator; measuring the temperature within the generator's environment, using a control mechanism to modify a driving frequency, and using a control mechanism to modify a driving pulse-train, such that changes in properties of the electronic components of the generator as a result of changes in environmental temperature are characterized and the generator's driving signals modified to maintain optimally efficient input parameters for a specific environmental temperature.

A control mechanism for a high-voltage generator that provides voltage and current to an electronic radiation source in a high-temperature environment is provided, the control mechanism including at least an intermediate enveloping ground plane, and a ground-plane potential monitoring system that provides an input to a control processor that in turn drives the high-voltage generator. A method of controlling a high-voltage generator that powers an electronic radiation source is also provided, the method including at least: measuring an enveloping ground plane potential such that a change in the potential of said enveloping ground plane surrounding the generator is monitored and used to determine the beginning of one or more of a partial discharge and flash-over event.

A high voltage connector is provided. The high voltage connector includes multiple electrical conductors, and at least one autotransformer. The high voltage connector is configured to couple a high voltage cable to an X-ray tube.

A high voltage connector is provided. The high voltage connector includes multiple electrical conductors, and at least one autotransformer. The high voltage connector is configured to couple a high voltage cable to an X-ray tube.

A linac-based X-ray system for cargo scanning and imaging applications uses linac design, RF power control, beam current control, and beam current pulse duration control to provide stable sequences of pulses having different energy levels or different dose.